Starting gate



H. C. DRESSEL Sept. 19, 1950 STARTING GATE,

4 sheets-sheet- 1 Filed June 18, 1947 IN V EN TOR. HHAOLD C. DRE 6" 5 fL Sept. 19, 1950 H. c. DRESSEL 2,522,932

STARTING GATE Filed June 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INTO/FIVE) Sept. 19,1950 H. c. DRESSEL STARTING GATE 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed June 18, 1947 NWWW INVENTOR. HIV/FOLD C. DREJJEL BY )9 I g 197' 7' ORA/E Y PatentedSept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE:

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for assuring alinement of the racehorses at the start of a race.

In. the racing of horses, particularly in the type of racing known asharness racing, it has been the responsibility of the several drivers,under instructions of a track judge, to keep their several horses inalinement at the starting point. However, if the horses arrived at thestarting point in misalinement, it became necessary for the judge tocall back the drivers to try again to have their horses properly alinedat the starting, point. Frequently, a number of tries of this kind mustbe made before a fair start is achieved. Such call-backs are disturbingto the horses and annoying to the spectators who are interested only inthe race and not in the maneuvers for the start.

The present invention has for its purpose a starting gate which will notfrighten the horses, which will not materially obscure the View of thespectators and will be reliable.

The main feature of the invention relates to a starting gate whichbridges or spans the course at an elevated position and which is guidedto travel backand forth in a fixed path along the course.

Another feature of the invention relates to a starting gate movableunder the control of the starting judge and provided with an obstructionwhich remains in the path of the horses until he starting point of therace is reached whereupon the obstruction is automatically moved out ofthat path.

An additional feature of the invention relates to a starting gateprovided with driving means at each end thereof, both driving meansbeing under the con trol of the starting judge.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe detailed description and claims when taken with the drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a race course provided with astarting gate arrangement of the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and a front elevation ofa starting gate driven by a motor mounted thereon:

Figs. 3A and 3B are respectively a side view and a plan View of astarting post;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic showing of a circuit with the motors andapparatus for that type of starting gate which is advanced or reversedby a motor mounted thereon;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary showing of a race course arranged to use amodified form of the invention in which the gate is driven by cables;

Fig. 6. is a side elevation of a modified starting gate of the cabledriven type;

Fig. '7. isa transverse section through the motor pits and also throughthe ground of the race course showing the motors and the relatedapparatus for driving the cables of this modified starting gate; and

8 is a diagrammatic showing of an electrical circuit arrangement foroperating the cable driven starting gate.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is illustrated the straightaway portionof a race course, generally designated C, which is of the conventionalshape and arrangement so that it can be used optionally for races eithera mile in length or for races ninesiXteenths of a mile in length. Thestarting point for the mile race is indicated at Si but the startingpoint for the shorter race is herein omitted for purposes of simplifyingthe description. In accordancewith the preferred form of the presentinvention, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, there is provided analinement or starting gate G which.

bridges the race course. The respective ends of he gate are providedwith pairs of wheels 5 which travel on stationary channel-shaped guidetracks 6, one of which isv mounted on a secure -foundation at each sideof the straight portion of the course. The gate is arranged to be drivenat a selectively variable rate in order to keepit just ahead of thehorses until the starting point is reached. The gate spans the width ofthe course at a considerable height above the same with a swingableobstruction suspended so that its lower edge is in a position atapproximately the height of the nose of the average horse. When,however, the gate reaches the starting point of the race, such as SI, apost 1 anchored in the ground engages means on the gate to trip theobstruction El, causing it to swing upward to its dotted line positionin Fig. 2 where it remains, so that the horses can pass through. Thegate is then driven in reverse to its normal or home position.

Specifically the gate, at each end thereof, is formed with a truckcomprising two spaced horizontal channel-shaped beams 8 (Figs. 2 and 3).The adjacent ends of these beams are secured to brackets 9, each bracketbeing provided with bearings in which there turns the axle it with awheel 5 secured thereto. These Wheels are preferably of the type thatuses pneumatic tires so that noise will be eliminated. At anintermediate point on the pair of horizontal beams 53, there is secureda vertical I-beam II. This I-beam is maintained in a vertical positionby inclined, channel-shaped braces I2 which extend from the respectiveends of the truck to the respective ends of a horizontal cross-piece I3,secured to the upper part of the I-beam. A second horizontal cross-piecei l is secured to the braces and to the vertical beam ll in spacedrelation below the first-mentioned cross-piece [3. The cross-pieces l3and it serve as supports for a lattice truss [6 which extends from onevertical I-beam l I to the other. From the under side of the truss butsomewhat in advance thereof, there are mounted bearings ll (Fig. 3) inwhich the movable obstruction 6 is supported to swing about a horizontalaxis. This obstruction, as previously mentioned, serves as a means tolin up the horses at the start of the race but is easily swung out of'the way when tripped in the normal manner or when it is touched by ahorse which has started to bolt. The obstruction includes a horizontalshaft I9 which turns in the bearings I1 and which extends a shortdistance beyond each of the vertical I-beams ll. This shaft terminatesat each end in a bevel gear 20, the purpose of which will be describedlater. Connection Ts 2| are secured in spaced relation along the shaftl9 at a distance apart to accommodate a horse. As herein indicated byway of example, there are eight spaces along the obstruction toaccommodate eight starting horses. Suitable tubes 22 connected to theTs, project away from the mentioned shaft and are connected in anyconvenient manner to a horizontal cross-piece 23 made up of tubesections which extend parallel to the mentioned shaft l9. Theobstruction is so made that when it is in its lowered position thecross-piece 23 will be located at approximately the level of the nose ofa horse of average height.

It has been mentioned that each end of the shaft 19 is provided with abevel gear which projects beyond its adjacent vertical up-right orI-bearn ll. Each bevel gear meshes with a second bevel gear 25 carriedon the upper ends of a vertical shaft 26 which is mounted in suitablejournals 27 secured to cross-supports 28 and 29 on each end of the gate.The lower end of each such vertical shaft 26 is provided with a crankarm 30 biased by spring 3| to project outwardly whereby the crank armscan engage the clips la, of a pair of starting posts 7 at point SI atthe respective sides of the course, when the starting point is reached.The clip la (Figs. 3A and 3B) on each post is horizontally adjustable sothat the obstruction can be tripped at the exact point desired. When therespective arms 30 engage their respective pair of starting posts 1,they act as cranks which turn the vertical shafts 26 and acting throughthe mentioned bevel gears 20 and 25, swing the obstruction 0 into itsupward position against the stop bar 32 as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2. Suitable rubber bumpers 220, on the obstruction engage the stopbar 32 to reduce the noise that would result if the several metal partscame into direct contact with each other. It will be noted (Fig. 3) thateach end of shaft i9 is provided with a crank arm l9a. A coil spring 33is connected to the free end of each crank arm and to the adjacentvertical I-beam l l. The arrangement of these springs 33 is such thatthe obstruction B will be held in its lower (full line) position (Fig.2) or in its upper (dotted line) position, as the case may be.

It has been mentioned that the gate G with its obstruction, is advancedat a selectively variable all speed on the guide tracks 6 so that theobstruction 6 is maintained just ahead of the noses of the severalhorses in the race. For this reason suitable means are provided tooperate the gate under the guidance of the starting judge. The startingjudge rides on a platform 34 provided at one end of the gate so that hecan call out instructions to the several drivers in the race and at thesame time advance the gate at a faster or slower rate as conditionsrequire.

The gate is driven by motors M, M at each end thereof. One of thesemotors is mounted adjacent the platform 34 on which the judge rides andis driven from a storage battery B. An electrically operated brake MBnormally grips the motor shaft. The operation of this motor includingstarting, accelerating, and stopping thereof, is governed by a controlbox 35 which is provided with a controller having a handle 36 (Fig. 2and with a reversing switch handle 3'! within convenient reach of thejudge. This control box for the most part contains apparatus andcircuits (diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4) which are adjusted by thementioned controller handle and reversing switch handle, as will be setforth in the description of the operation of the gate. Each of themotors M, M operating through the gear box 38, drives a vertical shaft39 mounted in journals 40 at the respective ends of the gate. Each shaftis provided at its upper end with a bevel gear 4| which meshes with abevel gear 42 on the related end of the horizontal shaft 43 (Fig. 3).The shaft 43 is mounted in suitable bearings secured on the undersidesof the cross-bars M. The horizontal shaft 43 has secured thereto beyondeach end of the gate, a bevel gear 44. Each gear M meshes with a bevelgear 45 that is secured to the upper end of a downwardly inclined shaft46 at each end of the gate. Each shaft 46 at its lower end has securedthereto a bevel gear 41 which meshes with beveled gear 48 secured to theaxle ll of one of the pairs of wheels 6 at each end of the gate. By theconstruction just described the motors M, M drive both ends of the gatesynchronously at the speed and in the direction chosen by the judge.

The operation of the system is as follows: At this time the gate G willbe standing on the left end of the tracks 6. When the starting judge isready to start the race, he mounts the platform 34. Thereupon, he throwsthe handle 31 of the reversing switch to its forward position and turnsthe controller handle 36 in a counterclockwise direction to'its secondposition. This operation energizes the electromagnet Fig. 4 in thebrakes MB to disengage the motor shafts. The motors are also energizedto move the starting gate at its lowest speed. To increase the speed ofthe starting gate, the starting judge continues to turn the controllerhandle 36 in the counterclockwise direction, thereby cutting outsections of the rheostat R until the gate attains a desired speed. Inthe event that the judge wishes to slow down the gate, the controllerhandle 36 will be turned back manually in a clockwise direction to thefirst position. This will slow down the gate but will not apply thebrakes. When the starting gate reaches the ofiicial starting point, thearms 36 projecting from the gate engage the clips la on the startingposts 1, which it will be recalled are fixed in the ground at thestarting point. When the crank arms engage these posts 1, the shafts 26are given a partial turn which is communicated through the bevel gears2-5 and 20 to the shaft l9. Shaft 19 as it rotates swings theobstruction to its raised position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.The springs 33 maintain the obstruction 0 counterbalanced in itselevated position. With the obstruction 0 thus raised, the horses canpass through the gate on their way around the race course. In the eventthat the gate has not been reversed when a predetermined point along thetracks 6, a projection 49 extending upward from the track is arranged toopen the limit switch it in the circuit of the motor M. The motor willthen cease to run in a forward position. However, by manually closingthe limit switch and by throwing the handle 3i of the reversing. switchinto its alternate position, the starting gate can again be brought backto its normal or home position on the track since the motors IV, M, willthen be operated in their re verse direction. The motors will stopwhenthe handle 36 moves. the controller to its normal position as shown. I

In the event that a horse starts to bolt, part of his body will contactthe lower part 23 of the obstruction 9. Since this obstruction iscounterbalanced by the springs 33, the obstruction will swing to itsuppermost position and remain there The shafts 58 of these two motors,are in alinement and are coupled together at 59 to extend under thecourse. The cable for driving each end of the gate has its endsconnected to the respective ends of the truck. The portion of each cableconnected to the right end of the truck (Fig. 6) is adapted to slidealong the upper surface of the guide track 6 and is adapted afterpassing over an idler Elli to pass through a metal tube 62 buried in theground and leading to the motor pit 51. At the pit several turns of eachcable are wound around a driven pulley 63 and then passes over a guide6| in contact with guide disk Blcz to slide along the guide track 5 forconnection to the left end of the truck. The driven pulley (i3 ismounted on a stud shaft 6:. which is adapted to tprn in suitablebearings in the spaced uprights G5. The shaft has secured thereto a gear68 which meshes with a gear Bl on the shaft .56 of the motors 58 whichin turn drive the pulleys and drag the cables in one direction or .theother so that the gate can be advanced or backed up at the will of thejudge. The driving motors lit in this modification are driven from acommercial source of current, for example, in

the present instance, the source is 220 volts, three phase, sixty cyclecurrent, which current is govzerned by the controllers "illa or Nibpreferably located at one side of the course adjacent the mile startingpoint Si and adjacent the nine sixteenths starting point S2 (Fig. 8).

The operation of the modified form of gate will best be understood fromthe description of the circuit diagram of Fig. 8. It will be understoodthat the operation of this form of gate is similar to that describedabove except that a different propelling mechanism has been substituted.When the race is to be started with this modified gate, the startingjudge takes his position at the controller lila located, for example, atthe starting point S! of the mile course. The

cluded in the motor circuit.

.moved to close contacts 88.

(i gate will then be at the left end of the tracks 6.. When the judge isready to start the race, he closes the power switch ll, throws theswitch 12a to its upper position and moves the handle of the controllerIlla to its starting, position. This completes a circuit for releasingthe brake on the motor shaft 58, and for starting the motors 5 6 at lowspeed. Since the motors 56 and related apparatus, are operated inparallel, it will be necessary to describe the circuits for operatingone motor only. It will be understood that the operating circuits forthe second motor 55 will be similar to those of the first motor. Thestarting circuit may be traced as extending from the current source,over conductor 13, winding of the brake relay (4, conductor 15,controller contacts l6 (now closed), conductor H and through thecontacts of switch 12a, conductor 18, through the limit switches 19,conductor to one side of the current source. This circuit operates thebrake relay it which in turn closes an operation circuit for the magnetwinding of brake MB to release this brake. The operating circuit for therelay 82 that starts the motor, may be traced from the current source,conductor l3, winding of relay 82, conductor 83, contacts of switch 72a,conductor 84, controller contacts 85, conductor "ill, contacts of switch72a, conductor 18 and through the limit switches 19, conductor 80 to theother side of the current source. Relay $32 when energized, closes theoperating circuit of the motor 56 by connecting the three powerconductors through motor 56 and conductors ti as well as through therheostat sections Ra, Rb and R0. motor 56 in its low or first speedsince the sec tions Ra, Rb and R0 of the rheostat are all in- The twomotors it will drive the cables to advance the gate in its forwarddirection. By turning the controller handle back to its first positionwherein the contacts '16 only are closed, the motors will slow down butthe magnets of brakes MB will remain energized so that the brakes willnot be applied.

To increase the speed of the starting gate, the

judge will turn the handle ltla of the controller to the selected speed,the controller contacts 81, 88 and .89 being closed in succession wherethe highest speed is desired. Where thesecond speed is desired, thecontroller handle is turned to close the contacts 81. This completes acircuit for energizing the second speed relay 90 which operates to shunta portion of the resistance sec- :tions Ra, Rb and Re of the rheostat.If the third speed is desired, the controller handle is This completes acircuit for energizing the third speed relay 9!, which operates to shuntout an additional portion of the resistance sections. Where the highestspeed is wanted the controller handle is turned to close the contacts89. This completes a circuit for energizing the high speed'relay 93,which operates to shunt out all of the resistor sections :Ra, Rb and Reof the rheostat.

The gateis thus advanced at the selected speed, until the crank arms atwhich project from the gate, engage the starting posts 1 at the startingpoint SI. This engagement moves the obstruction 0 to its secondposition, that is, out of the path of the horses. If the judge fails tothrow the switch 120. to its reversing position before the limitswitches l9 are reached, the projection 94 on the gate (Fig. 6) willopen a pair of these switches which open the several operating cir cuitsto stop the gate. When it is desired to This circuit starts the returnthe gate to its home position at the left end of the tracks 6, theswitch 72a, is moved to its lower position. The reverse relay 95 is thenenergized from one side of the power source, conductor 13, winding ofthe relay 9-5, conductor 92, lower contacts of switch 72a, conductor 96,through the reverse limit switches 98, conductor 80, to the other sid ofthe power source. The reverse relay 95 is thus operated and at itscontacts closes a circuit for operating the motor 56. It will beunderstood that the reverse relay 95 of the second motor 56 likewisecompletes a circuit for operating this motor also in reverse. Thesemotors, therefore, move the gate in the reverse direction along thetracks 6 to the home position. The opening of the switch 12a, interruptsall of the relay circuits of the system so that the motors stop. If theoperator fails to open the switch 12a before the left end of the tracksare reached, the projections 94 (Fig. 6) on the ends of the gate willopen the limit switches 99 (Fig. at the side of the respective tracks.This interrupts the several relay circuits to stop the motors andthereby bring the gate to rest.

If the course is utilized for a race ninesixteenths of a mile in length,the switch 72b and the right hand controller (Fig. 8) which are locatedadjacent the starting points S2, are used. The operation of the gatefrom this controller, is similar to that already described and need notbe repeated here.

What I claim is:

1. In an arrangement for maintaining race horse in alinement at thestart of a race, in combination with a race course having a givenstarting point, a guide track at the inside and at the outside of aportion of the course extending at least to said starting point atapproximately the level of the course, a gate comprising a horizontalsupport bridging the course at an elevated position and arranged totravel on said guide tracks, a horizontal shaft mounted on said support,a substantially rigid obstruction frame extending transversely of therace course, means including said shaft for moving said frame relativeto said course from a position in which it obstructs the course for thepassage of horses, to a second position in which it permits the horsesto pass through on their way along the course, a stationary projectionat said starting point, and means including a crank arm on said gatecooperating with said projection to rotate said shaft whereby saidobstruction frame is moved to its second position.

2. In an arrangement for maintaining race horses in alinement at thestart of a race, in combination with a race course, a guide track at theinside and at the outside of a substantial portion of the course, a gatespanning the course at an elevated position above the level of thehorses heads and arranged to travel on said guide tracks, means foradvancing said gate along said guide tracks, said gate having mountedthereon a rigid obstruction frame arranged to move from a position inwhich it obstructs the course for the passage of horses to a secondposition in which it permits the horses to pass through on their wayalong the course, and means responsive to active contact of a horse withsaid frame to move said frame to said second position.

3. In an arrangement for maintaining race horses in alignment at thestart of a race, in combination with a race course having a givenstarting point, a guide track at the inside and at the outside of aportion of the course and extending along the same at least to saidstarting point, a gate comprising a truss bridging the course at anelevated position above the heads of the horses taking part in the raceand arranged to travel on said guide tracks, a substantially rigidobstruction frame hingedly supported at a plurality of spaced pointsalong the truss to extend transversely of the race course and arrangedto move relative thereto from a position in which it obstructs thecourse for the passage of horses to a second position in which itpermits the horses to pass through on their way along the course, meansresponsive to the arrival of said gate at said starting point for movingsaid frame to said second position and means responsive to activecontact of a horse with said frame to move said frame to said secondposition.

4. In an arrangement for maintaining race horses in alignment at thestart of a race, in combination with a race course, a guide track at theinside and at the outside of a substantial portion of the course, a gatespanning the course at an elevated position above the level of thehorses heads and arranged to travel on said guide tracks, means foradvancing said gate along said guide tracks, said gate having mountedthereon a rigid obstruction frame arranged to move from a position inwhich it obstructs the course for the passage of horses to a secondposition in which it permits the horses to pass through on their wayalong the course, and means responsive to active contact of a horse withsaid frame to move said frame to said second position, said meansincluding at least one spring tending to hold said frame in each of itsrespective positions.

HAROLD C. DRESSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,166 Stedeker Apr. 10, 19001,571,168 Gray Jan. 26, 1926 1,659,713 Whalen Feb. 21, 1928 1,916,951Healy July 4, 1933 1,930,780 Soules Oct. 17, 1933 2,002,427 Bacon May21, 1935 2,024,879 Rush Dec. 17, 1935 2,119,073 Corrigan May 31, 1938FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,912 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1933

